Political Economy of Security Working Group
The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University is proud to welcome a new working group, “The Political Economy of Security.”
Officially launched this semester, the working group hosted two events at the Pardee School this week. The first was a gala reception attended by members of the faculty and university community.
“I am delighted by the interest across the BU campus and Boston for our new initiative. Questions about how economics impacts security and how security impacts economics are some of the most interesting issues we confront in the study and practice of global affairs,” said Assistant Professor Kaija Schilde, one of the leaders of the working group. “The fact that so many students came to see Professor Erickson’s talk during the busiest week of the year demonstrates how much interest there is in these topics.”
Additionally, the working group hosted a lecture by Boston College professor Jennifer Erickson entitled “The Politics of Arms Export Controls.”
Erickson is the author of “Dangerous Trade: Arms Exports, Human Rights and International Reputation,” published by Columbia University Press. She spoke of the conflicting mandates of nations which participate in arms export treaties, but who often have pressing foreign policy goals that lead to the continuation of dealing arms, even to very dangerous nations.
“The lowest-performing human rights nations are still getting weapons,” said Erickson in the event, which was attended by a full complement of students. “And in many nations, the only thing that can impact the flow of arms exports is a large political scandal. Otherwise, the public rarely pays attention.”
Earlier this semester, the working group celebrated its launch in a gala reception at the 2015 ISA Conference in New Orleans. The Political Economy of Security Working Group is led by Schilde and Rosella Cappella Zielinski of the Department of Political Science.